naos

American  

[ney-os] / ˈneɪ ɒs /

noun

plural

naoi

1. a temple.

2. Architecture. cella.

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naos British  

/ ˈneɪɒs /

noun

1. rare an ancient classical temple

2. architect another name for cella

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Etymology

Origin of naos

First recorded in 1765–75, naos is from the Greek word nāós dwelling of a god, inner part of a temple, shrine

Example Sentences

Team historians were particularly intrigued by black granite pieces from a Menouthis naos, or shrine, on which hieroglyphics revealed the roots of classical astrology.

From Time Magazine Archive

Hence the cella or naos is the central feature of the building.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 4 "Grasshopper" to "Greek Language" by Various

At daybreak, September 25, 1493, seventeen ships, three carácas of one hundred tons each, two naos, and twelve caravels, sailed from Cadiz amid the ringing of bells and the enthusiastic Godspeeds of thousands of spectators.

From The History of Puerto Rico From the Spanish Discovery to the American Occupation by Van Middeldyk, R. A. (Rudolph Adams)

One of the local gods of Tahpanhes is represented on the Cairo monument, an Egyptian stele in the form of a naos with the winged solar disk upon its frieze.

From Legends of Babylon and Egypt in relation to Hebrew tradition by King, L. W. (Leonard William)

Then with the same chant the elder priests brought out of the sanctuary the statue of the goddess, no longer covered with the naos.

From Sulamith: A Romance of Antiquity by Kuprin, A. I. (Aleksandr Ivanovich)